NYMC Faculty Publications

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Is Associated With Decreased Mortality in Non-Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Patients Following Severe Blunt Thoracic Trauma

Author Type(s)

Faculty, Resident/Fellow

DOI

10.1097/TA.0000000000004544

Journal Title

Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

First Page

593

Last Page

599

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2025

Department

Surgery

Keywords

critical care outcomes, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, Thoracic injuries

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

BACKGROUND Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has emerged as a critical intervention in the management of patients with trauma-induced cardiorespiratory failure. This study aims to compare outcomes in patients with severe thoracic injuries with and without venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study on Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2017-2021) and included all patients with isolated blunt thoracic injuries with Abbreviated Injury Scale score of ≥4 who required intubation. Patients were divided into two groups based on VV-ECMO and were compared using propensity score matching with the primary outcome of mortality. RESULTS A total of 14,106 patients with severe thoracic injuries were identified. Propensity score matching resulted in two groups of 812 VV-ECMO and 812 non-VV-ECMO groups. Venovenous ECMO group had significantly lower in-hospital mortality rates (22.3% vs. 37.3%, p < 0.001). However, VV-ECMO group had significantly higher rates of complications including cardiac arrest (27.7% vs. 10.6%), pulmonary embolism (7.6% vs. 2.1%), ventilator-associated pneumonia (16.7% vs. 4.2%), unplanned intubation (11.9% vs. 8.5%), unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admission (8.4% vs. 4.9%), and unplanned return to operation room (10.1% vs. 2.6%) (p < 0.001, for all). Patients in VV-ECMO group had significantly higher hospital (29.46 ± 26.37 vs. 13.59 ± 13.3 days) and ICU (22.96 ± 19.38 vs. 9.38 ± 9.05 days) length of stay (p < 0.001, for both). In VV-ECMO group, the mean ± SD time to perform VV-ECMO was 5.54 ± 5.91 days. Each day earlier initiation of VV-ECMO resulted in decreased hospital and ICU length of stay by 67.1% and 59.9%, respectively (p < 0.001 for both). Among patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 435 in each group after repeated PS matching), we observed significantly lower mortality rates in VV-ECMO group (26.9% vs. 40%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION While VV-ECMO in isolated blunt thoracic trauma patients is associated with higher survival rates even in non-acute respiratory distress syndrome cases, it is associated with higher incidence of complications. These findings emphasize earlier consideration of VV-ECMO in severe blunt thoracic trauma.

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